Socceroos retirement not on Cahill's mind

A steely Tim Cahill refuses to contemplate whether Wednesday's do-or-die World Cup qualifying playoff clash could be the last match of his great international career.

A loss or score draw against Honduras in Sydney would end the campaign and surely force a trio of veteran Socceroos to consider their international future - skipper Mile Jedinak, Mark Milligan and Australia's all-time leading goalscorer Cahill.

Last month, Cahill proved himself to still be the man for the big occasion, scoring a decisive double to drag Australia over the line against Syria in the Asian playoff.

But at 37, it's difficult to imagine Cahill setting a course to play at the 2022 World Cup, at which he'd celebrate his 43rd birthday.

The commonly-held view is that Cahill is steeling himself for the chance to play at a fourth World Cup in Russia next year.

He has a playing contract with Melbourne City that expires just prior to the 2018 World Cup, meaning next year is a possible end date to his storied career.

Cahill said he wouldn't be contemplating the end to his playing days before the Honduras match.

"That's the difference between me and anyone else. I don't think about the negatives leading into something that's so important for our country," he said.

"The same thing that (was) driving me against Syria -- to be selected -- and that's the same thing that will be driving me (against Honduras)."

Jedinak, 33, said last week that he wasn't thinking about the end of his international career, given he'd fought so hard to return to the Socceroos setup

The Australian captain was selected for the Honduras playoff after missing five months of international football with a groin injury.

"Having had a little spell away, (international retirement) is probably one of the furthest things on my mind," he said.

The only other obvious candidate for retirement in Postecoglou's youthful squad is Milligan, at 32.

Like his colleagues, the Melbourne Victory midfielder hasn't given an indication of his plans - but the shattering pain of a potential loss to Honduras could bring him, Jedinak and Cahill to the end of the road.